Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Doctor of Education)

Overview

A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree is offered in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. This is an applied research based program for professionals serving in educational management positions in schools and school-related organizations; e.g. state departments of education, professional associations, higher education, and human service agencies.

Program emphases include: the design and implementation of educational research; policy studies; adaptation of theoretical constructs and models related to leadership and change in educational and social service settings; knowledge and skills in interorganizational relationships; budget and strategic planning and program evaluation.

This program has been designed to respond to the expanding demands placed on leaders in educational and human service organizations where leaders are increasingly expected to design and supervise local research and varied evaluative studies; interpret and apply recent national research findings; analyze and apply governmental regulations and court decisions; develop organizational responses to emerging social expectations; organize and lead staff development programs; understand and apply broad-based economic principles and social and fiscal policy; develop and manage budgets; assess and respond to the psychological needs of educational consumers; employ effective interpersonal management and decision-making skills.

Specific Requirements

Prerequisites for Admission to Graduate Studies

Applicants must possess a master's degree or equivalent, from an accredited institution and a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 for previous graduate study. Other requirements include three letters of recommendation, a representative scholarly writing sample and a resume. Students applying for graduate fellowships and/or assistantships are required to demonstrate satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Students admitted to graduate studies must complete successfully a core of study consisting of courses in research, foundational, and policy studies, and organizational change and leadership. Upon such completion and submission of a qualifying paper, students will be considered for candidacy for the degree. Students must also pass a written comprehensive examination prior to the award of the degree of Doctor of Education.

Prerequisites for Acceptance to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Education

Transfer of Credit

A maximum of nine (9) semester hours may be accepted in transfer from an accredited graduate program. Transfer credit may be completed prior to admission to the Doctor of Education Program provided that the credit is approved by the student's Studies Committee and that the credit conforms to all other Graduate College requirements.

Residency Requirement

A minimum of fifty-six credits of doctoral studies completed at UVM following formal admission to the program with the following distribution:

twenty-one credits in the core courses (minimum)

fifteen credits general distribution (minimum)

twenty credits of dissertation research (minimum)

For further requirements concerning Studies Committees, Research and Dissertation, and the Dissertation Defense Examination Committee, refer to General Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Application deadline: February 1.

Detailed information on the course of study is available from Program Director, Kieran Killeen, Professor, the University of Vermont, College of Education and Social Services, 499B Waterman Bldg., Burlington, VT 05405-0160, and on the program Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies website.